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Oregon Jail Deaths Happen More To Disabled People

AlexVan/Pixabay

In theory, people go to jail only to be held while they await trial. In practice, jail inmates can be held for long periods. And in fact, ten people died while in custody in Oregon jails in 2020.

Disability Rights Oregon recently released a report showing that nine of the ten people who died had a disability of some kind. The report details the contributing factors and makes recommendations to prevent people from dying in jail in the future.

Liz Reetz is a Stanford Public Interest Law Fellow with DRO's Mental Health Rights Project; she is the author of the report and our guest.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily talk show focused on news and interests across our region of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.